Image processing apparatus, image processing method, storage medium, and program

ABSTRACT

It is difficult appropriately to select only a favorite image in a list display screen of small images such as a thumbnail image. An image processing apparatus is provided that has, in various embodiments, one or more of the features of an indicator for indicating a reduced image to be subjected to a specific image processing among displayed reduced images; a display controller for displaying an image in a size larger than the size of the reduced image indicated by the indicator; and an executor for executing the specific image processing on the stored image after the mentioned display controller displays the image in the size larger than the size of the reduced image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique of transferring an image toa computer from a digital camera or another apparatus, for storing theimage, and printing or e-mailing the image.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, it has become easyto photograph a large amount of images and to store the images in apersonal computer (PC), and to print them by oneself, or to attach themto an e-mail and mail them.

Accordingly, a large number of pieces of image management software havebeen brought on sale, by which the image can be managed with a PC,printed and attached to an e-mail.

A representative example of the image management software is shown inFIG. 1. In this manner, when a folder containing an image to bedisplayed is selected from section 1, an image file in the folder isdisplayed in a thumbnail form (an image obtained by reducing in size anddisplaying the original image) in section 2, so that a user can easilysee a large number of images at once. In this case, when a certainthumbnail image is selected and double-clicked in a section 3, the imagecan be enlarged and displayed in a separate window. Moreover, when acertain thumbnail is selected and printing is designated, the printingof the image can be executed. Furthermore, when a certain thumb nail isselected and “e-mailing” is designated, mail software is started and theimage file is automatically attached to an e-mail.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a printing designation window.

A plurality of thumb nails are selected and “print . . . ” is selectedfrom a menu or the like. Then, the window of FIG. 2 appears. Here,selected thumbnail images 207 are arranged and displayed. A horizontalnumber of frames×a vertical number of frames of images arranged in asheet can be designated with frame number designations 201, 202. Whenthe selected images are arranged in more than one sheet, the images canbe checked for confirmation that they are the desired ones by pressing aformer page button 204 or a next page button 205. Subsequently, when aprint button is pushed, the images are printed according to the layoutwith a printer.

With the display of the thumbnail form, many images can preferably beseen at a glance, but each image size is small. Therefore, some imagemanagement software has a “slide show” function with which a pluralityof selected thumbnail images are fully displayed over a screen and cancontinuously be seen. A first image of the selected images is displayedall over the screen, and the display is changed to the next imagedisplay by clicking a mouse or pressing an appropriate key. When this isrepeated, the selected images can successively be displayed and seen allover the screen. In this case, the display can be returned to theprevious image display by pressing an arrow key “←” or a specific key.

Many images are photographed with a digital camera, stored in the PC,and displayed in a list in the thumbnail form with the image managementsoftware. These images include an image out of focus, an imagephotographed with manual vibration, repeatedly photographed images of asimilar scene or the same object, and the like.

In general, in consideration of a PC screen size, the thumbnail isprepared and displayed in a size of about 80×60 dots, or 160×120 dots atmost. In this size of display, it is very difficult to distinguish animage that is out of focus, an image that was made during manualvibration, or the like. Moreover, it is also difficult to select asupposedly best photograph from among several repeatedly taken of thesimilar scene or the same object.

The user wants to print, e-mail or otherwise send a favorite photographto an acquaintance, but as described above it is difficult to find thephotograph from many images in the list display with such thumbnailsize. Therefore, the user double-clicks the thumbnails one by one,enlarges and displays each image in a separate window and confirmswhether the image is good or bad, or reproduces the images with theaforementioned slide show function to successively check the images. Inthis case, the user performs an operation of memorizing the favoriteimage, one returning to the thumbnail display screen, and re-selectingonly the favorite image from the screen to print the image or attach theimage to the e-mail.

As described above, finally the image is to be printed or attached tothe e-mail. However, an operation of checking and selecting the image isnot correlated with an operation of printing a result or attaching theresult to the e-mail, and this is inconvenient in the user's operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve one or more of theaforementioned problems.

Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus, image processing method, storage medium, andprogram which solves the aforementioned disadvantages, can securely oreasily judge whether an image is good or band, and can selectivelyprocess only the good image.

To achieve these objects, according to the present invention there isprovided an image processing apparatus that comprises a capturing unitadapted to capture a reduction image from a storage medium storingstorage images, the reduction images respectively corresponding to thestorage images. Also provided are a first display control unit thatcauses a display device to display the reduction images captured by thecapturing unit, and a first selection indication unit that selects andindicates those reduction images which are to be subjected to a specificimage process, from the reduction images displayed on the displaydevice. A second display control unit causes sequentially display of alarger size image for each of the reduction images indicated the firstselection indication unit, and an execution indication unit selects andindicates which of the storage images are to be subjected to thespecific image process, by selecting a corresponding larger size imagesequentially displayed by the second display control unit. A specifyingunit specifies as a group, as a target of the specific image process,the storage images corresponding to the larger size images indicated bythe execution indication unit, upon completion of the display by thesecond display control unit, and the second display control unitperforms a slide show display.

Furthermore, in addition to the aforementioned constitution, in theimage processing apparatus, the second display control preferablydisplays the stored image corresponding to the reduced image indicatedby the indication means.

Additionally, an object of the present invention is to confirm the imageby the display of the second display control means without requiring anintricate operation.

To achieve the object, in addition to the aforementioned constitution,in the image processing apparatus, an indicator for changing the imageto be displayed in the display is displayed.

Moreover, in another aspect, the invention is directed to an imageprocessing apparatus that comprises a capturing unit adapted to capturea reduction image stored in a storage medium, a display control unitthat causes a display device to switch-display images each larger thanthe corresponding reduction image captured by the capturing unit, and aregistering unit that registers, from among a series of imageswitch-displayed by the display control unit, the image indicated by auser as a target of a specific process.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to smoothly shift toa specific image processing with respect to an image judged to beappropriate for the specific image processing.

To achieve the object, in addition to the aforementioned constitution,the image processing apparatus further comprises execution instructionmeans for instructing the specific image processing to be actuallyperformed in the image displayed in the display by the second displaycontrol means.

In this case, the execution means executes the specific image processingon the image for which the execution is instructed by the executioninstruction means.

In another aspect, the invention is an image processing apparatus thatcomprises a capturing unit that captures images stored in a storagemedium, a display control unit that controls so that the captured imagesare displayed entirely on a display device, and a registering unit thatregisters, from among a series of images switch-displayed by the displaycontrol unit, the image indicated by a user as a target of a specificprocess.

Further objects and characteristics of the present invention will beapparent upon reading the following description of an embodiment withreference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a display screen of a thumbnail of imagemanagement software.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a print window.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a slide show window.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a printing designation button, and of ane-mail designation button.

FIG. 5 shows a management list of selected images.

FIG. 6 shows a procedure for starting a slide show reproduction screen.

FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure for a pushed “next” button.

FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure for a pushed “back” button.

FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure for a pushed printing designationbutton.

FIG. 10 shows a processing procedure for a pushed e-mail button.

FIG. 11 shows a procedure until a print window is started.

FIG. 12 shows a procedure until e-mail software is started.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a digital camera.

FIG. 14 shows an example of connection of a computer and camera.

FIG. 15 shows a system constitution example in a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 14 shows a constitution example of a personal computer system as aplatform on which the present invention is carried out. In FIG. 14,reference numeral 301 denotes a computer system main body, 302 denotes adisplay for displaying data, 303 denotes a mouse as a typical pointingdevice, 304 denotes a mouse button, and 305 denotes a keyboard. Adigital camera 310 is connected to the computer system main body viacommunication cables such as RS-232C and USB types.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a constitution of an image data managementsystem including software and hardware. In FIG. 15, reference numeral509 denotes hardware, 505 denotes an operating system (OS) operating onthe hardware 509, and 504 denotes application software operating on theOS 505. Additionally, components of the hardware 509 and OS 505 that arenot directly necessary for describing the present embodiment of thepresent invention is not shown. Examples of such blocks include hardwaresuch as the CPU and memory, a memory management system as the OS, andthe like. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 515 denotes a hard disk forphysically storing a file and data. A file system 508 constituting theOS has a function for allowing the application software to input/outputthe file regardless of the particular hardware. A disk 10 interface 514is disposed such that the file system 508 performs reading/writing ofthe hard disk 515. A drawing management system 507 constituting the OShas a function for allowing the application software to perform drawingregardless of the particular hardware. Reference numeral 513 denotes avideo interface for allowing the drawing management system 507 toperform the drawing in the display 302. An input device managementsystem 506 constituting the OS has a function for allowing theapplication software to receive a user's input regardless of theparticular hardware. Reference numeral 510 denotes a keyboard interfacefor allowing the input device management system 506 to receive the inputof the keyboard 305, and 512 denotes a mouse interface for allowing theinput device management system 506 to receive the input from the mouse303. The digital camera 301 is connected via RS-232C cable in thepresent example. The digital camera is managed by an external interfacemanagement system 522 via an RS-232C interface 521. The communicationmodule 305 performs communication with this external interfacemanagement system. An image management software 501 uses thiscommunication module to exchange image data and information with thecamera.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the digital camera. A USB I/F 1 is connectedto the PC. A mode dial switch 2 has a play mode 2 a, photography mode 2b, stitch assist mode 2 c, slide show reproduction mode 2 d, and poweroff 2 e. Reference numeral 3 denotes a compact flash TM (CF) card slot.When only a camera main body is used, the mode dial switch is turned toanother mode from the power off, and on the power being turned on, thatmode is operational. In the photography mode, an image preview isdisplayed in an LCD 4. When a release switch 5 is pushed, the image isphotographed and recorded in a CF card 6. In the play mode, the lastphotographed and recorded image is displayed in the LCD, and the imageis successively fed and reproduced by +− buttons 7 a, 7 b.

An operation procedure in which the user selects the image, performsslide show reproduction and subsequently prints the image will next bedescribed.

The user selects a thumb nail for the slide show reproduction in thethumb nail display screen of FIG. 1. In a selecting method, when “selectall” is designated from the menu, all thumbnails are brought to aselected state. In the selected state, a frame color of the thumbnailturns to red, blue or another color. When a plurality of thumbnails arecontinuously selected from the thumbnail in a certain place, the firstthumbnail is clicked and brought to the selected state. Thereafter, thelast thumbnail is clicked while pushing SHIFT key. Then, the thumbnailsincluding intermediate thumbnails are in the selected state. Moreover,when a plurality of arbitrary thumbnails are selected, CTRL key ispushed, and simultaneously the thumbnails are clicked. Then, only theclicked thumbnails are in the selected state.

After the thumbnails to be subjected to slide show reproduction isselected, “slide show . . . ” is selected from the menu. Then, the slideshow screen is displayed in the whole screen of the computer 302 of FIG.14 as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, since the thumbnail display screenof FIG. 1 is positioned in a back of the slide show reproduction screen.Therefore, the thumbnail display screen cannot be displayed or operated.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes the whole screen, and 302denotes a displayed image. When a “back” button 303 is pushed, thedisplayed image can be returned to the previous image. When a “next”button 304 is pushed, the display can advance to the display of the nextimage. To advance to the next image, instead of this button, the mousemay be clicked, or a space key or an arrow 6 key may be pushed in thesame manner. Moreover, to return to the previous image, the display canalso be returned with an arrow 7 key.

Reference numeral 305 denotes a printing designation button. When theuser sees the image, and wants to print the image, the user pushes theprinting designation button. Then, a designation end mark is displayedon the button as shown by 402 of FIG. 4. This indicates that the userhas designated the printing of the image. When the button is pushed onceagain, the printing designation is canceled, and the display returns to401. When the user successively displays and checks the image, and findsthe image to be printed, the user designates the printing of the image.

When an end button 307 is pushed, the slide show reproduction is ended,the screen 301 disappears, and the original thumbnail display screenshown in FIG. 1 returns. In this case, when the printing of even oneimage is designated in the slide show screen, a printing window shown inFIG. 2 automatically starts, and the user can enter an operation forcontinuously printing the images.

An inner processing procedure will be described along a flow of a seriesof operations.

When the slide show reproduction screen is started, a list of selectedimages shown in FIG. 5 is transferred from the thumbnail display screen.In this list, an image file path name is stored, and values for theprinting designation are all stored with initial value Off designation.

For the slide show reproduction screen, a procedure shown in FIG. 6 isperformed.

In step 601 the list is obtained, and in step 602 an image file No. 1 ofthe list is loaded and displayed. Subsequently, the buttons 401 and 402of FIG. 4 are displayed in accordance with the value of printdesignation of the list shown in FIG. 5. In this case, since the initialvalue is Off, the button 401 is displayed. In step 603 the first imagebeing displayed is stored in a variable COUNT. Subsequently,(COUNT+1)-th image file is loaded. Thereby, the image can quickly bedisplayed for the next image display.

When the “next” button 304 of FIG. 3 is pushed, a processing shown inFIG. 7 is performed.

It is checked in step 702 whether a (COUNT+1)-th image to be displayedhas already been loaded. When the image is not loaded, the image isloaded in step 708. Subsequently in step 703, the image is displayed inthe screen. Moreover, the button 401 or 402 of FIG. 4 is displayed inaccordance with the printing designation value of the list shown in FIG.5. It is checked in step 704 whether the (COUNT+1)-th image is in amemory. If the image is in the memory, the image is deleted in step 705.Next in step 706 a (COUNT+2)-th image is loaded, and in step 707 COUNTvalue is increased by one. In this case, the previous and next images tothe image being displayed are loaded in the memory, and thus when the“back” or “next” button is pushed, the corresponding image can quicklybe displayed.

When the back button 303 of FIG. 3 is pushed, a processing shown in FIG.8 is performed.

It is checked in step 802 whether a (COUNT−1)-th image to be displayedhas already been loaded. When the image is not loaded, the image isloaded in step 808. Subsequently in step 803, the image is displayed inthe screen. Moreover, the button 401 or 402 of FIG. 4 is displayed inaccordance with the printing designation value of the list shown in FIG.5. It is checked in step 804 whether the (COUNT+1)-th image is in thememory. If the image is in the memory, the image is deleted in step 805.Next in step 806 a (COUNT−2)-th image is loaded, and in step 807 theCOUNT value is decreased by one. In this case, the previous and nextimages to the image being displayed are loaded in the memory, and sowhen the “back” or “next” button is pushed, the corresponding image canquickly be displayed.

When the printing designation button is pushed, a processing shown inFIG. 9 is performed.

In step 902 a state before the button is pushed is obtained from thelist of FIG. 5. If in step 903 or 905 a list holding value is Off, thevalue is set to On. If the value is On, the value is set to Off.Subsequently in step 904 or 906, the button is again displayed inaccordance with the setting.

When the user pushes the end button 301 of FIG. 3, the slide show screenends, and the thumbnail display screen of FIG. 1 returns.

In the thumbnail display screen, a processing shown in FIG. 11 isperformed.

It is checked in step 1102 whether there is any “On” in the column ofprinting designation of the list shown in FIG. 5. If there is even one“On”, the printing window of FIG. 2 is started in step 1104. In theprinting window, the path name of the image file having “On” in the listof FIG. 5 is obtained, the image is loaded, and the image is used as thedisplayed image 207 or the image whose printing is executed by pushingthe print button 206.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the example for performing the printingdesignation in the slide show screen and subsequently automaticallystarting the printing window has been described. In a second embodiment,an example for designating an image to be attached to the e-mail in theslide show screen and subsequently automatically starting e-mailsoftware will be shown.

The user selects a thumbnail for the slide show reproduction in thethumbnail display screen of FIG. 1. In a selecting method, when “selectall” is designated from the menu, all thumbnails are brought to aselected state. In the selected state, a frame color of the thumbnailturns to red, blue or another color. When a plurality of thumbnails arecontinuously selected from the thumbnail in a certain place, the firstthumbnail is clicked and brought to the selected state. Thereafter, thelast thumbnail is clicked while pushing SHIFT key. Then, the thumbnailsincluding intermediate thumbnails are in the selected state. Moreover,when a plurality of arbitrary thumbnails are selected, CTRL key ispushed, and simultaneously the thumbnails are clicked. Then, only theclicked thumbnails are in the selected state.

After the thumbnail to be subjected to the slide show reproduction isselected in this manner, “slide show . . . ” is selected from the menu.Then, the slide show screen is displayed in the whole screen of thecomputer 302 of FIG. 14 as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, since thethumbnail display screen of FIG. 1 is positioned in the back of theslide show reproduction screen. Therefore, the thumbnail display screencannot be displayed or operated.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes the whole screen, and 302denotes the displayed image. When the back button 303 is pushed, thedisplay can be returned to the previous image. When the next button 304is pushed, the display can advance to the display of the next image. Toadvance to the next image, instead of this button, the mouse may beclocked, or the space key or the arrow 6 key may be pushed in the samemanner. Moreover, to return to the previous image, the display can alsobe returned with the arrow 7 key.

Reference numeral 306 denotes an e-mail designation button. When theuser sees the image, and wants to attach the image to the e-mail, theuser pushes this button. Then, the designation end mark is displayed onthe button as shown by 404 of FIG. 4, and this informs the user of thee-mail designation. When the button is pushed once again, the e-maildesignation is canceled, and the display returns to 403. When the usersuccessively displays and checks the image, and finds the image to beattached to the e-mail, the user designates the attaching of the image.

When the end button 307 is pushed, the slide show reproduction is ended,the screen 301 disappears, and the original thumbnail display screenshown in FIG. 1 returns. In this case, when the e-mail of even one imageis designated in the slide show screen, e-mail software automaticallystarts, and a new mail with the image attached thereto is displayed.

The inner processing procedure will be described along the flow of aseries of operations.

When the slide show reproduction screen is started, the list of selectedimages shown in FIG. 5 is transferred from the thumbnail display screen.In this list, the image file path name is stored, and values for thee-mail designation are all stored with initial value Off designation.

For the slide show reproduction screen, the procedure shown in FIG. 6 isperformed.

In step 601 the list is obtained, and in step 602 the image file No. 1of the list is loaded and displayed. Subsequently, the buttons 403 and404 of FIG. 4 are displayed in accordance with the value of e-maildesignation of the list shown in FIG. 5. In this case, since the initialvalue is Off, the button 403 is displayed. In step 603 the first imagebeing displayed is stored in the variable COUNT. Subsequently,(COUNT+1)-th image file is loaded. Thereby, the image can quickly bedisplayed for the next image display.

When the next button 304 of FIG. 3 is pushed, the processing shown inFIG. 7 is performed.

It is checked in step 702 whether the (COUNT+1)-th image to be displayedhas already been loaded. When the image is not loaded, the image isloaded in step 708. Subsequently in step 703, the image is displayed inthe screen. Moreover, the button 403 or 404 of FIG. 4 is displayed inaccordance with the e-mail designation value of the list shown in FIG.5. It is checked in step 704 whether the (COUNT−1)-th image is in thememory. If the image is in the memory, the image is deleted in step 705.Next in step 706 the (COUNT+2)-th image is loaded, and in step 707 COUNTvalue is increased by one. In this case, the previous and next images tothe image being displayed are loaded in the memory, and thus when the“back” or “next” button is pushed, the corresponding image can quicklybe displayed.

When the back button 303 of FIG. 3 is pushed, the processing shown inFIG. 8 is performed.

It is checked in step 802 whether the (COUNT−1)-th image to be displayedhas already been loaded. When the image is not loaded, the image isloaded in step 808. Subsequently in step 803, the image is displayed inthe screen. Moreover, the button 403 or 404 of FIG. 4 is displayed inaccordance with the e-mail designation value of the list shown in FIG.5. It is checked in step 804 whether the (COUNT+1)-th image is in thememory. If the image is in the memory, the image is deleted in step 805.Next in step 806 the (COUNT−2)-th image is loaded, and in step 807 theCOUNT value is decreased by one. In this case, the previous and nextimages to the image being displayed are loaded in the memory, and sowhen the “back” or “next” button is pushed, the corresponding image canquickly be displayed.

When the e-mail designation button is pushed, the processing shown inFIG. 10 is performed.

In step 1002 a state before the button is pushed is obtained from thelist of FIG. 5. If in step 1003 or 1005 the list holding value is Off,the value is set to On. If the value is On, the value is set to Off.Subsequently in step 1004 or 1006, the button is again displayed inaccordance with the setting.

When the user pushes the end button 301 of FIG. 3, the slide show screenends, and the thumbnail display screen of FIG. 1 returns.

In the thumbnail display screen, the processing shown in FIG. 12 isperformed.

It is checked in step 1202 whether there is any “On” in the column ofe-mail designation of the list shown in FIG. 5. If there is even one“On”, in step 1204 the path name of the image file with the e-mail“On”is obtained. In step 1205 the e-mail software is started and the pathname of the image file is passed. In the e-mail software, a new mailscreen is displayed, and these image files are attached.

Third Embodiment

In the first and second embodiments, in order to reproduce the slideshow, the display advances to the next image in response to the user'sclear instruction, the end button 301 of FIG. 3 is pushed, and the slideshow screen is ended.

As another mode of slide show, the image is displayed for a given time,and subsequently the display is automatically successively changed tothat of the next image. In this case, after the last image is display,and the given time elapses, the slide show screen automatically ends.

In this case, while the image is displayed for the given time such asfive or ten seconds, the printing designation button or the e-maildesignation button is pushed, and thereby the designation can beperformed similarly as the first and second embodiment. When the displayof the last image ends, the slide show screen automatically ends. Whenthere is the printing designation or the e-mail designation, theprinting window or the e-mail software is automatically displayed.

Additionally, the present invention can preferably be applied not onlyto printing and mail transmission but also to a use mode in which theimage is transferred, for example, to the computer from the digitalcamera. For a storage medium of the digital camera, the number of framesof stored images is limited. Therefore, it is necessary to frequentlytransfer or delete the image in the storage medium.

The present invention is also preferable in a storage region changeprocessing for transferring the image in this manner.

Moreover, in the aforementioned embodiments, after the printing or otherprocessing is indicated with a reduced image, an original stored imagecorresponding to the indicated reduced image is displayed as largely aspossible in the screen, but this feature is not limited to thesepossibilities. In order to display the contents of the reduced imagesuch that the content is more easily recognized, an image larger thanthe reduced image may be displayed.

Moreover, at least a part or the whole of the reduced image may beenlarged and displayed.

Additionally, the present invention may be applied to a systemconstituted of a plurality of apparatuses (e.g., a host computer,interface apparatus, reader, printer, and the like), or to an apparatusconstituted of one unit (e.g., a copying machine, facsimile machine).

Moreover, a program code of software for realizing the aforementionedembodiment function is supplied to an apparatus connected to variousdevices or a computer in a system in such a manner that various devicesare operated to realize the aforementioned embodiment function. Thesystem or the apparatus computer (CPU or MPU) is operated by operatingvarious devices according to the stored program. The invention carriedout in this manner is also included in a category of the presentinvention.

Furthermore, in this case, the program code itself of the softwarerealizes the function of the aforementioned embodiment. The program codeitself, and means for supplying the program code to the computer, forexample the storage medium with the program code stored thereinconstitute the present invention.

Examples of such a storage medium with the program code stored thereininclude a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magnetic optical disk,CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and the like.

Moreover, when the computer executes the supplied program code, theaforementioned embodiment function is realized. Additionally, theprogram code cooperates with an operating system (OS) operating in thecomputer, another application software, or the like, and theaforementioned embodiment function is realized. In this case as well,needless to say, the program code is included in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

As described above, when designation means is disposed in the slide showdisplay, first the user displays the image in a large size, can judgewhether the image is good or band, and can selectively process only thegood image. Moreover, the image selected in this manner is printed orattached to the e-mail according to the user's final object. Thisoperation can continuously be performed without being interrupted.

Moreover, the image processing apparatus of the present inventionincludes: take-in means for taking in a reduced image from a storagemedium in which a stored image and the reduced image corresponding tothe stored image are stored; first display control means for displayingthe reduced image taken by the take-in means in a display; indicationmeans for indicating the reduced image to be subjected to a specificimage processing from the reduced image displayed in the display; seconddisplay control means for displaying the reduced image indicated by theindication means in such a manner that the image is more easilyrecognized; and execution means for executing the specific imageprocessing on the stored image after the second display control meansdisplays the image. Therefore, the image which should not be processedcan be prevented from being incorrectly indicated by the reduced image.In a preferable method of displaying the image in a more recognizablemanner, the stored image corresponding to the reduced image isdisplayed, the stored image is displayed in a size larger than that ofthe reduced image, or at least a part of the reduced image is enlargedand displayed.

Moreover, since the second display control means displays the storedimage corresponding to the reduced image indicated by the indicationmeans, the image can be confirmed with a non-reduced stored image.

Additionally, since the second display control means displays any one ofthe images to be displayed in the display, it is unnecessarysimultaneously to display another image or to reduce the display screen.The image can be displayed in a large size fully in the display, and caneasily be confirmed.

Moreover, since an indicator for changing the image to be displayed inthe display is displayed, the displayed large image can successively bechanged. All the images are easily confirmed in the large screen.

Furthermore, since the image processing apparatus further includesdisplay changeover means for successively automatically changing theimage to be displayed in the display, an operation of performing achangeover instruction can be omitted during confirmation of the image.

Additionally, the image processing apparatus further comprises executioninstruction means for instructing the specific image processing to beactually performed in the image displayed in the display by the seconddisplay control means, and the execution means executes the specificimage processing on the image for which the execution is instructed bythe execution instruction means. Therefore, while seeing the largeimage, the image processing can actually be performed on the image to beactually processed.

Moreover, since the printing processing is performed as the specificimage processing, the performing of an unnecessary printing is reduced.Particularly, in recent years, by a printer, the image can be printedwith a resolution much higher than a display resolution of the system.Characteristics which cannot easily be recognized during confirmationwith the reduced image remarkably appear in the printed image.Therefore, the present invention is effectively applied during theprinting processing.

Moreover, since the image processing apparatus includes editionoperation acceptance means for accepting the user's operation, theprinting processing smoothly flows and the apparatus is convenientlyused.

Furthermore, the mail transmission processing is performed as thespecific image processing. Therefore, for example, when the image istransmitted via e-mail, a troublesome operation of starting anotherapplication to confirm the image during preparation of a new mail can beomitted, and the apparatus is conveniently used.

Additionally, the apparatus includes mail preparation control means forcontrolling the apparatus in such a manner that a new mail preparationprocessing of attaching the image indicated to be mailed/transmitted isperformed during the mail transmission processing. Therefore, theprocessing can smoothly shift to the processing of preparing the newmail.

Moreover, a transfer processing of transferring the stored image to adesired storage region is performed as the specific image processing.Therefore, an operation of starting another application to confirm theimage to be transferred and transferring the desired image afterconfirmation is not required. Therefore, the intricate operation can beomitted and the apparatus is conveniently used.

Moreover, for the storage medium of the digital camera, the number offrames of stored images is limited. Therefore, an operation oftransferring the image to the computer is frequently performed, andfurther there are many opportunities for performing the printing oranother operation. In a use mode in which the storage medium is includedin the digital camera, particularly a user's operation property can beenhanced.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments,and various modifications are possible within the scope claimed in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: anobtaining unit adapted to obtain a plurality of reduction images from astorage medium storing storage images, each of the reduction imagescorresponding to a respective one of the storage images; a first displaycontrol unit adapted to cause a display device to display the pluralityof reduction images obtained by said obtaining unit; a reduction imageselection unit adapted to select reduction images from among theplurality of reduction images displayed by said first display controlunit; a second display control unit adapted to effect, in a size largerthan that of the reduction images, automatic sequential display ofimages corresponding to the stored images which correspond respectivelyto the reduction images selected by said reduction image selection unit;a designating unit adapted to designate a plurality of images among theimages displayed by said second display control unit in the size largerthan that of the reduction images, as an image to be subjected later toa specific image process; a storing unit adapted to continue, at leastup to completion of the automatic and sequential display with the largersize by said second display control unit, to store informationindicating the plurality of images designated by said designating unitas the images to be subjected later to the specific image process; and aspecifying unit adapted to specify the storage images corresponding tothe plurality of images indicated by the information stored by saidstoring unit as an image group to be subjected to the specific imageprocess, when the automatic sequential display by said second displaycontrol unit is completed.
 2. An image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the storage image corresponding to each of thereduction images selected by said reduction image selection unit is oneof the images displayed in the larger size by said second displaycontrol unit.
 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said second display control unit causes the display device todisplay any one of the images to be displayed.
 4. An image processingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second display control unitcauses the display device to further display an indication section forchanging the image to be displayed on the display device.
 5. An imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an applicationprogram corresponding to the specific image process automatically startsafter the end of the display by said second display control unit.
 6. Animage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saiddesignation unit can select whether or not to execute plural kinds ofimage processes.
 7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the specific image process includes a print process.
 8. An imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an editingoperation accepting unit adapted to accept a user's operation to editarrangements of the images to be printed and print sizes thereof in theprint process.
 9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the specific image process includes an electronic mailtransmission process.
 10. An image processing apparatus according toclaim 9, further comprising an electronic mail formation control unitadapted to control to perform a new electronic mail formation process ofattaching the image indicated to be transmitted as electronic mail, inthe electronic mail transmission process.
 11. An image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific image processincludes a transfer process of transferring the storage image to adesired storage area.
 12. An image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the storage medium is included in a digital camera. 13.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information indicating theprocess target is displayed together with the selected image.
 14. Animage processing method comprising: an obtaining step of obtaining aplurality of reduction images from a storage medium storing storageimages, each of the plurality of reduction images corresponding to arespective one of the storage images; a first display control step ofcausing a display device to display the plurality of reduction imagesobtained in said obtaining step; a reduction image selection step ofselecting reduction images from among the plurality of reduction imagesdisplayed on the display in said first display control step; a seconddisplay control step of effecting, in a size larger than that of thereduction images, automatic sequential display of images correspondingto the stored images which correspond respectively to the reductionimages selected in said reduction image selection step; a designatingstep of designating a plurality of images among the images displayed insaid second display control step in the size larger than that of thereduction image, as images to be subjected later to a specific imageprocess; a storing step of continuing, at least up to completion of theautomatic and sequential display with the larger size in said seconddisplay control step, to store information indicating the plurality ofimages designated in said designating step as the images to be subjectedlater to the specific image process; and a specifying step of specifyingthe storage image corresponding to the plurality of images indicated bythe information stored in said storing step, as an image group to besubjected to the specific image process, when the automatic sequentialdisplay in said second display control step is completed.
 15. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program to cause acomputer to perform an image processing method comprising: an obtainingstep of obtaining a plurality of reduction images from a storage mediumstoring storage images, each of the plurality of reduction imagescorresponding to a respective one of the storage images; a first displaycontrol step of causing a display device to display the plurality ofreduction images obtained in said obtaining step; a reduction imageselection step of selecting reduction images from among the plurality ofreduction images displayed on the display in said first display controlstep; a second display control step of effecting, in a size larger thanthat of the reduction images, automatic sequential display of imagescorresponding to the stored images which correspond respectively to thereduction images selected in said reduction image selection step; adesignating step of designating a plurality of images among the imagesdisplayed in said second display control step in the size larger thanthat of the reduction image, as images to be subjected later to aspecific image process; a storing step of continuing, at least up tocompletion of the automatic and sequential display with the larger sizein said second display control step, to store information indicating theplurality of images designated in said designating step as the images tobe subjected later to the specific image process; and a specifying stepof specifying the storage image corresponding to the plurality of imagesindicated by the information stored in said storing step, as an imagegroup to be subjected to the specific image process, when the automaticsequential display in said second display control step is completed.